Fuel Container For Fuel Cell

Abstract

A fuel container for a fuel cell, comprises a liquid fuel chamber having a space for the storage of liquid fuel, a valve disposed in an outlet of the liquid fuel chamber to discharge the liquid fuel from the space or stop the discharge, a partition wall member movable through the space toward the valve, and a compressed gas chamber communicating with the space and storing compressed gas, the compressed gas imparting a back pressure to the partition wall member so that the partition wall member moves through the space toward the valve, the liquid fuel chamber and the compressed gas chamber being integral with each other. This fuel container is used as a fuel container for replenishing fuel to a fuel container installed in a fuel cell or can be installed into a fuel cell.

1 . A fuel container for a fuel cell, comprising:
 a liquid fuel chamber having a space for the storage of liquid fuel;   a valve disposed in an outlet of the liquid fuel chamber to discharge the liquid fuel from the space or stop the discharge;   a partition wall member movable through the space toward the valve; and   a compressed gas chamber communicating with the space and storing compressed gas, the compressed gas imparting a back pressure to the partition wall member so that the partition wall member moves through the space toward the valve,   the liquid fuel chamber and the compressed gas chamber being integral with each other.   
   
   
       2 . A fuel container for a fuel cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the valve is constructed so as to be connectable to a fuel supply port of the fuel cell. 
   
   
       3 . A fuel container for a fuel cell which not only stores liquid fuel and compressed gas but also causes the liquid fuel to be forced out by the compressed gas and supplied to the fuel cell, the fuel container comprising:
 a container body storing the liquid fuel and the compressed gas, the container body having a connection port for supplying the liquid fuel to the fuel cell;   a partition wall member disposed within the container body, the partition wall member partitioning the interior of the container body into a liquid fuel chamber storing the liquid fuel and a compressed gas chamber contiguous to the liquid fuel chamber and with the compressed gas sealed therein; and   a valve disposed in the connection port.   
   
   
       4 . A fuel container for a fuel cell according to  claim 1 , wherein the fuel container is constructed so that it can be loaded into a device incorporating a fuel cell. 
   
   
       5 . A fuel container for a fuel cell according to any of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the container body is formed in the shape of a cylinder, the liquid fuel chamber is formed in the shape of a cylinder or in a tubular shape having an oblong section. 
   
   
       6 . A fuel container for a fuel cell according to any of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the compressed gas chamber in the container body is adjacent and juxtaposed to the liquid fuel chamber. 
   
   
       7 . A fuel container for a fuel cell according to any of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the compressed gas chamber in the container body is adjacent to the liquid fuel chamber. 
   
   
       8 . A fuel container for a fuel cell according to any of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the maximum pressure of the compressed gas is 0.3 MPaG or lower. 
   
   
       9 . A fuel container for a fuel cell according to any of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the compressed gas is an oxygen-free gas. 
   
   
       10 . A fuel container for a fuel cell according to any of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein at least a part of the liquid fuel chamber is formed of a light transmitting material. 
   
   
       11 . A fuel container for a fuel cell according to any of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the container body has scales indicating the position of the partition wall member. 
   
   
       12 . A fuel container for a fuel cell according to any of claims to  3 , wherein the liquid fuel is a mixture of methanol and water.